UPDATE: Police officers in Dothan, Ala., arrested Philadelphia lawyer and accused New Jersey thief and Ponzi schemer Michael W. Kwasnik yesterday at the Greyhound bus station in Dothan, according to a statement issued by Dothan police Chief Gregory J. Benton.

Kwasnik was found in possession of “items essential for out of country travel such as passports and maps,” Dothan police said.

Police said Kwasnik came to their attention at the bus station after officers received an “anonymous tip” that two persons “may be attempting to transport narcotics.”

When officers arrived, they found no narcotics — but discovered Kwasnik was wanted in New Jersey on charges filed earlier this week.

Kwasnik is being held for New Jersey authorities, Dothan police said, noting that Kwasnik “stated he had no intentions of fleeing and desired to return home to face charges of which he maintains innocence.”

Kwasnik will be held in Alabama until “extradition is arranged as a Fugitive from Justice,” Dothan police said. He was charged criminally and sued civilly earlier this week by New Jersey Attorney General Paula T. Dow.

Kwasnik was accused criminally of stealing more than $1 million from an elderly woman for whom he was performing trust services.

Separately, he was sued civilly amid charges he was part of an $8.5 million Ponzi scheme that targeted senior citizens.

Stephen J. Taylor, New Jersey’s director of criminal justice, said Monday that Kwasnik was a “cheat and a thief who betrayed his oath as an attorney to uphold the law. We are continuing to investigate his various financial schemes, and we urge anyone with relevant information to contact us.”

Dothan police did just that after finding Kwasnik in the Alabama city.